Rural 1st donated a construction trailer to benefit a skilled trades program in northwest Ohio.
Providing the next generation with the tools and training they need to be successful is an important part of our mission to secure the future of rural America. That’s why we support technical education programs designed to prepare high school and adult learners for essential skilled jobs.
As part of this initiative, we proudly support the experience-based education offered at Four County Career Center (FCCC) in rural northwestern Ohio.
FCCC partners with 22 school districts in four counties to help prepare students for college, secondary educational programs and careers in health care, public safety, manufacturing and skilled trades. More than 1,000 high school students and 2,000 adult learners enroll at FCCC annually.
The Building Trades and Carpentry program at FCCC gives students on-the-job experience by having them build a home annually for a community member. In 2023, they approached our team to provide funding for a construction trailer to support this project. The construction trailer is a 6-foot by 12-foot trailer that holds all the equipment on-site for the carpentry students throughout their project.
Having a construction trailer has been a game-changer for the program. It allows the students to conveniently store the materials and tools they need on-site.
“We really appreciate Rural 1st’s support of our school and trade programs,” Ray Gibson, career technical supervisor at FCCC, said. “The construction trailer had a big impact on our carpentry, plumbing and electrical students.”
Ray said the construction trailer also offered an extra educational opportunity when it was initially delivered. Students in the electrical program installed wiring and the carpentry students built customized storage solutions to set up the trailer for future students.
“Career technical education is so important for the future of rural America,” said Tom Sloma, regional vice president of Rural 1st sales, “It helps entire communities achieve success by offering people the potential to raise their incomes and boost local economies. Programs like the ones offered at FCCC are changing lives and helping rural communities thrive. We’re thrilled to play our part in supporting them. ”
To learn more about our local initiatives, visit our community investments web page.
